Luminescent shoe



June 21, 1949.

' I J. GOLDSTEIN INVENTOR. V 6 4 7') 3- 41 HIS ATTORN Patented June 21,1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

The present invention relates to shoes and to the combination of a shoeused in the proper sense of foot-wear to which phosphorescent or othermaterial or the like is applied. The present invention is particularlyapplicable to slippers which are frequently placed by the bed side atnight and are not readily visible in darkness, when the individual wantsto put them on. It is highly useful, not only to see easily suchslippers or shoes, but to be able to locate the left and the right andalso to put them on without turning on the lights.

The invention has other utilities and is applicable also to shoes tomake them visible in the dark. For the purpose of locating the shoes atnight to put them on, the phosphorescent area may be placed on theinstep of the shoe on the inside in the vicinity of the front portion ofthe heel. The phosphorescent material may also be so protected that eventhough the sock bears against it, it will be protected and preserved.The phosphorescent coating may also be placed on the vamp of the shoe onthe heel or on the quarter above the heel.

Various constructions illustrating embodiments of the present inventionare shown in the drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a slipper with the phosphorescent material applied on theinside surface.

Figure 2 shows a modification of Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a section taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figures 4, 5 and 6, show further modifications of the invention.

In the figures, the phosphorescent or other equivalent material may beformed of some activated metallic salts or such substances as zincsulphide or sulphides of calcium strontium, cadmium barium or the liketo which colored pigment may be added and combined in a lacquer or someplastic or synthetic plastic material, such, for instance, as celluloseacetate, vinyl chloride, or any of the other numerous thermoplastics towhich such phosphorescent materials may be added. The phosphorescentmaterial if applied to plastics may be formed in a sheet form andcemented to the shoe. Such an arrangement is shown in Figure 1 where aplastic strip l on the inside of which may be printed a word left orsome other indication to indicate that it is the left shoe is applied tothe inside of the shoe. Such indication may take the form of an L or anarrow directed inward towards the other foot. This indication is paintedor impressed upon the underside of the plastic strip which is sumciently2 transparent to permit the phosphorescent material to become activatedand also to be visible in the darkness.

If desired the strip may be formed of a letter R, L, an arrow or thelike and have incorporated in it as part of the plastic filler or partor" the plastic material the activated solid to produce the properphosphorescent effect. When placed on the inside sock lining or innersole of the shoe, it is preferable to place it adjacent to the heel padand instep partially occupying either one or both. If desired, asindicated more readily in Figure 2, the indication may be in the form ofa circular disc embedded in the sock lining or inner sole in the heelpad or in the instep or extended partly over both sections. In this casethe disc 2 may be placed in a recess so that its top surface is levelwith the surface of the inner sole or sock lining, and this may becovered, if desired, with a transparent strip of material as indicatedat 3 in Figure 3. The phosphorescent disc 2 may carry the imprint of atrade-mark or label of the manufacturer and such other indications asmay be desired.

In an arrangement indicated in Figure 4 which shows the invention asapplied to a slipper, the slipper may have a cross strip extended diagonally across the vamp as indicated by 5. This strip may be bordered ateach side by a phosphorescent border, as, for instance, 6 and I.

In the arrangement of Figure 6, the phosphorescent material may beapplied to the quarter as shown in the area 8. This area is verysuitable for such material as the counter of the shoe will make theregion stiff so that the material will not readily crack or peel offbecause of flexing or bending the shoe and because also the shoe isvisible from behind as one is walking along.

In the arrangement of Figure 5, the phosphorescent material may beapplied in strips 9 along the side of the vamp, indicating the openingof the foot and also whether the shoe is left or right because of thedirection of the curves and their alignment.

While the term phosphorescent material is used, it is to be understoodin a general sense to mean material which may be activated to producelight after the activating source has been removed.

Having now described my invention, I claim:

1. A shoe having a phosphorescent material applied as an integral partof the shoe to the region of the heel pad and visible part of the instepindicating the location where the forward part of the foot may beinserted when stepping into the shoe.

2. A shoe having a phosphorescent material applied as an integral partof the shoe to a visible part thereof providing a left or rightindication and indicating in association therewith where the forwardpart of the foot may be inserted when stepping into the shoe.

3. A shoe having a phosphorescent material applied as an integral" partof the shoe to a visible part thereof" indicating in associationtherewith where the foot is to be inserted.

4. A shoe having a phosphorescent material" applied as an integral partof the shoe toa strip diagonally across the vamp surface, forward of thethroat of the vamp for indicatingin associ ation with said throat wheretheafoot is to be-v inserted when putting on the shoe.

5. A shoe having a phosphorescent material applied as an integral partof the shoe in strips beginningattheuppen edgaofthe vamp and ex:-;tending: inv successive elongated. curves alongv the side section of thevamp forward ofthe. throat of: the vamp for indicating. in' associationwith said;throat.where thefoot is to' be inserted when putting; on the-.shoe.-

6. A. shoe: having. a phosphorescent. material applied aszan'. integralpart. of. the shoe comprising a plastic; sheet having phosphorescentmaterialtherein, andmeanszapplying said sheet to the instep/ofv the;shoe; near the heel pad incli-- eating thelocation where-the forwardpart of the.

foot maybe: insertedwhen stepping into the shoe.

7. A. shoe having a phosphorescent material" applied as an integralpartof the shoe comprising. a translucentplastic sheet. havingphosphorescent material applied on: one side thereof and means securingsaid sheetv to the instep of the shoe with the phosphorescent materialon the under side thereof indicating the location where the forward partof the foot may be inserted when stepping into the shoe.

8. A shoe having a phosphorescent material applied as an integral partof the shoe comprising a translucent plastic sheet havingphosphoresce-nt material applied on one side thereof, the instep of theshoe near the heel pad being slightly recessed to receive the plasticsheet making the: upper surface: thereof level with the surface of" the'instep and means" securing said sheet to the instep of the shoe with thephosphorescent material on the underside of the sheet-whereby theposition of said phosphorescent material will indicate the locationwhere the forward part of-the foot may be inserted when stepping. into.the. shoe.-

JOSEPH GOLDSTEIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of"this patent:

UNITED STATES: PATENTS Number Name I Date 1 1,291,739 Booth Jan. 2 1,1919* 1,321,024 Frank- Novz 4, 1919* 1,349,396 VanCl-ifi Aug. 1-0, 1920'1,467,132 Bilst'eih- Sept. 4; 192(3 1,630,730 Daugherty-* May 31, 19272,290,690"- Lehman July'21, 1942 2,310,740 Leavy Feb. 9, 1943" 2,341,009Axelra'd Feb. 8, 1944 OTHER. REFERENCES.

Luminescence of. Liquids: and: Solids. by Pa. Pringsheim and: M. VogelInterscience' Publishers

